MLB Rumors

Orioles injured designated hitter Wilson Betemit continues to be limited to jogging in a pool, MASNSports.com reports Sunday. 

Betemit is on the disabled list with a Grade 2/3 tear in his PCL. He began jogging in a pool Friday and nothing has changed as of yet. 

The switch-hitter has yet to be cleared for baseball activities and will not be ready to come off the 60-day disabled list when he's eligible May 30.

Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden will begin a hitting and catching progression Monday as he rehabs from a left thumb injury, MASNSports.com reports Sunday. 

Teagarden just had the splint removed from his thumb Saturday. The catcher is not close to going on an injury rehab assignment. 

Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook took about 25 throws from 60 feet Sunday and said he felt good, ESPN St. Louis reports.

Westbrook has been dealing with scar tissue buildup in his elbow. He is expected to miss at least two more starts, if not more, if a cortisone shot doesn't break up the scar tissue. 

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will have the sutures removed from his leg Monday, MASNSports.com reports Sunday. 

Roberts, who was moved to the 60-day disabled list over the weekend, was supposed to have the sutures removed Friday, but the leg wasn't fully healed. 

Since consulting with a specialist about his health in New York in mid-April during a road series against the Yankees, Diamondbacks third baseman Eric Chavez has been thriving offensively. He's batting .347 since the mid-April series, with five home runs, seven doubles and 17 RBI in that 24-game stretch.

"I was having trouble getting the bat through the zone (early in the season)," Chavez said to The Arizona Republic. "I was just kind of sputtering a little bit. I knew on the schedule that I was going there (New York), so I felt comfortable that I was going to go in there and get some good work. Talking with (the training staff), they were all on board with one of them coming to see what happens so they could do what we’ve been doing. It’s really helped out."

Chavez said the key to him remaining successful is making sure he doesn't push himself too hard.

"Recovery is a big part of what I need to do," Chavez said. "Gibby (manager Kirk Gibson), he’s communicated with me. What do you want to do? What should we do? How should we handle this? He’s been really good about it, too."

Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton (elbow) is expected to move his rehab assignment from high Class A Visalia to Triple-A Reno Monday. After playing three games for Reno, manager Kirk Gibson said the Diamondbacks will reassess Eaton's status.

Gibson said he won't have trouble finding playing time for his outfielders once Eaton is healthy. Before getting hurt, Eaton was expected to be the team's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.

"I’m not really worried about it," Gibson told The Arizona Republic. "If we have guys, we’ll find places for them to play. As we bring back some of these guys, we’ll get stronger in areas and it allows guys to go hard and then take a break and it will allow somebody else to go hard. That’s the way it is. The team has a good mentality about that. They play hard when they get in there. That’s what you want. You want to have great strength and depth."

The Orioles gave outfielder Nate McLouth a game off Sunday in the series finale against the Rays at Camden Yards. With Matt Moore on the mound, McLouth was given some rest. 

The speedy left fielder saw his average drop from .346 to begin May to just .268 after a game May 15 against the Padres. He's up to .279 again after going 4 for 9 (.444) in his last two with a triple, walk and two stolen bases. He's scored four runs in the last two games. 

The 31-year-old McLouth has three homers, 10 RBI and is second in the American League with 32 runs scored. He's tied for the lead in the AL with 13 steals with Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury. 

Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso homered and finished 2 for 3 Saturday against the Nationals. Alonso has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .320 (8 for 25) with a home run, two runs and two RBI.

Alonso began May by batting .185 (5 for 27) with a home run and six RBI in nine games.

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart has been scratched from Sunday's game with an illness, MLB.com reports. Cesar Izturis will take his place at shortstop. Consider Cozart day-to-day. He will likely return Monday against the Mets.

The Orioles confirmed Freddy Garcia will start Monday, MLB.com reports Sunday. Garcia was on turn to start Monday but was not considered a definite until manager Buck Showalter made the announcement. 

Garcia was solid in his Orioles debut but has struggled in two losses since. He has allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits -- including three homers -- over his last two starts spanning 9 2/3 innings.